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Winter Coral Shipping Guide: Safe Delivery in Cold Weather

🧊 Winter Shipping Guide: Protecting Your Corals from the Cold

🌡️ Preferred Shipping Conditions

For the safety of your corals, our preferred shipping conditions include:

  • Overnight low temperatures of 25°F or higher
  • No forecasted snow or ice at the UPS Louisville, KY hub
  • No forecasted snow or ice in the local delivery area
  • No posted extreme weather warnings for any part of the route

If these conditions aren’t met, we may recommend holding the shipment until weather improves.

📦 1. Monitor Weather Conditions

Before shipping, we closely monitor the weather forecast for both our location and the recipient’s. Particular attention is given to UPS hubs such as Louisville, KY, where winter delays and cold exposure can occur. If winter storms or extreme conditions are expected, shipments are delayed to reduce risk.

📦 2. Use High-Quality Insulated Shipping Boxes

We use 1.5-inch foam coolers similar to those used for medical shipments. These help maintain stable internal temperatures and block cold air.

🔥 3. Heat Packs Are Essential

We only use 40-hour heat packs for overnight delivery. Shorter-duration packs can overheat quickly and pose a risk to corals.

📦 4. Pack Corals Securely

Corals are double-bagged using strong bags with minimal air to reduce sloshing. Cushioning and a cardboard barrier are added between corals and heat packs.

🏷️ 5. Label Your Package Clearly

Packages are labeled “Live Coral” and “Fragile.” First-time recipients may also receive unpacking instructions inside the box.

🚚 6. Choose the Right Shipping Service

All corals ship via UPS Next Day Air only. Economy or multi-day services are never used.

📞 7. Communicate with the Recipient

Customers receive tracking details and delivery timing. If no one will be home, packages should be held at UPS or received by a trusted party.

🌡️ 8. Acclimate Corals Upon Arrival

  1. Float sealed bags for 30+ minutes to equalize temperature.
  2. Slowly add tank water over 30–60 minutes.
  3. Place corals in the tank. Avoid drip acclimation until after floating.

📝 Final Thoughts

Careful planning and weather awareness are critical for winter coral shipping. When conditions are right, we ship with confidence. When they aren’t, we hold—because your livestock comes first.